Doomsayer2001's Xanga

It's Been To Long.

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:39:06 GMT

Greetings.
How is everyone?
Not to many on here anymore, myself included.

For those of you who are still around, about 2 posts back I mentioned I had a dream and gave mostly full detail on it and what I thought it meant cause at the time I was battling some serious depression. I left out two (what I thought to be minor) details and had some question about why everything ended up into my left hand. The first minor detail was that the other people in this particular dream were co-workers, and with the current financial situation on the horizon here in the country, we could all soon be dutifully unemployed. In my particular job, when people stop buying things, they stop shipping them as well, and I drive a truck for a living. If the economy tanks, so will my job. One of our competitors bit it a couple of months ago and it was getting to the point of them or us. They sank and we stayed afloat (for now). And the other minor detail is that the storms came from and east/northeasterly direction, not from the usual westerly direction that is the normal pattern around here in the midwest.

The thing about my left hand had me confused, I'm not left handed. But with the election results behind us, I can clearly now see what and why the left hand. Our country is leaning severely to the left with the election of B.O. and I can sense a very heavy hand toward those of us who do not subscribe to socialism or marxism or the possible threat of fascism rearing it's ugly head here on our shores.

With that said, I was given another dream this sunday into monday morning. It was much shorter, and I have some indication as to what it may mean. Either way, I knew when I woke up from it that monday morning what the election results were going to be tuesday, I still did my voting duty like a good citizen. The dream didn't necessarily tell me what the results were going to be, but from what I gathered from within the dream, and when I woke, I was immediately taken back to my first dream.

Here is the dream...

Once again, as in the previous dream, I was standing in my Grandma's drive way facing the east/northeasterly direction. My family was with me, wife and kids. There was some tree's missing that were there in the previous dream so that I could clearly see the horizon from that E/NE direction. The wind was blowing and the sky was clear and all at once in the sky appeared a gigantic and awesomely brilliant rainbow that engulfed a greater part of the sky above us. And I felt peace. I knew what that meant. My wife asked me to take some pictures of it and when I got the camera, the rainbow went away. And immediately from the E/NE direction came three black tornadoes tearing across the countryside straight towards us. My wife and kids were terrified and ran for safety (much like I had done in the first dream). I yelled for them to stop and watch with me. As the tornadoes grew closer and closer, they began to dissipate until there was one left and it diminished into a dust devil sort of swirling eddie and it to disappeared right in front of me before my very eyes. And when it disappeared, a single black feather was left floating in the air in front of me and it too (as the eyes in the previous dream) deposited it's self into my left hand. This is when I awoke.

It could perhaps just be a dream and not mean a thing. But it was so similar to my first dream as in location and all the smaller details. I woke with the sense that it meant something. I'm just not sure what. The rainbow part is crystal clear to me. I felt the same peace as I did when I opened my hand in the first dream and found the googley eyes that follow where ever you go.

Anyone with any thoughts on this is welcome to leave a comment. For the record, these are not my first dreams that I thought have come directly from God. I have had them on and off all my life, about 4 or 5 total to be exact.

On a much lesser secondary note, the track playing was created by me under the name of Siltwater. The track is soon to be released to the public, but as of now is still not available, so anyone stopping by has the privilege of hearing this before everyone that normally would get to hear it. If you like these kinds of sounds or experimental sounds of all kinds of variety, all my material is free for download @
http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator:%22Siltwater%22

Thanks.
~ eric

A Dying Heart.

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:43:31 GMT

Here is the great truth that, only when we see things in the light of God, do we see things as they are. It is only when we see things in the light of God that we see what things are really important, and what things are not. Things which seem vastly important, things like ambition, and prestige, and money and gain, lose all their value and importance when they are seen in the light of God. Pleasures and habits and social customs which seem permissible enough, are seen for the dangerous things they are when they are seen in the light of God. Things which seem evils, hardship, toil, discipline, unpopularity, even persecution, are seen in their glory when they are seen in the light of God. ~ William Barclay (1907-1978)

The devil never tempts us with more success than when he tempts us with a sight of our own good actions. ~ Bp. Thomas Wilson (1698-1755)

Teach me. O God, to use all the circumstances of my life
today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness
rather than the fruits of sin.
Let me use disappointment as material for patience:
Let me use success as material for thankfulness:
Let me use suspense as material for perseverance:
Let me use danger as material for courage:
Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering:
Let me use praise as material for humility:
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance:
Let me use pains as material for endurance.
~ John Baillie (1886-1960)

================================

Greetings.

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

It has been a long while since I have written substantially on really anything of worth on here. Most of you are gone now, except the occasional post here and there. Nonetheless, I felt the urgent need to write.

I've had a lot to deal with myself as of late, my eyes which should be on my Lord have to often been turned to me.
I (figuratively) built all these cardboard idols (that looked just like me) and spray painted them with gold spray paint and dedicated them all to myself so that others, along with myself, would be impressed. Alas, I found that I had imprisoned myself with them.

See, I've touched on this before, waaaaayyy back when I used to write everyday, I'm a complainer at heart. I can complain about just about any circumstance I find myself in, be it good or bad or whatever the situation might be. Instead of trusting in God, who is ALL sufficient and ALL knowing and ALL sovereign in ALL things, or to sum it up, omniscient, I trusted in my own failed and fallen hands. And with these faltering hands and my complaining heart, I have driven joy and peace and everything I know to be true and righteous right out of my life. I have failed to trust Him in all things...

2 Samuel 22:31

"As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him."

Psalm 9:10

"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."

It's an ongoing struggle with me, it's always tooth and nail on this subject. And I have far to often let the enemy get the upper hand. When trials, great or small, come into my life, I let them run me down and I suffer the loss every time. And you look through the scriptures at the prophets of the old testament and the apostles of the new and you see them over and over going through struggle, strife and flat out persecution and these men were the chosen of God!

Acts 9:10-15

"Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias."
And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight." Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.""

I seemed to have missed it! I'm not being persecuted for my faith or suffering for the name of God! I am complaining over life's trivial non-point issues like sitting in traffic, being overworked, having to stand to long in a line at a fast food restaurant for more than a couple of minutes! And it's very much to my shame! What will happen when real persecutions come to me? Will I be cowardly or will I stand strong in Jesus who is "a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head"? I know what is right and good! I know it and have not obeyed!

2 Corinthians 4:7-10

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

So here it is, my confession. With these words and upon His word I will stand or continue to fall. I've already fallen into the cesspool, now I just need some help out. And I realize that I need to get back to the basics, the first works of that which I have forgotten. Thank you for your time and patience with me.

Dearest Brothers and Sisters, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. And now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

================================

Cesspool ~ Blenderhead

I wake to greet the new day,
reminded of all the mistakes I've made,
but it just doesn't matter anymore.
I'm not alone, I'm safe at home.
I don't need your sympathy.
I can remember a time when you were close.
When you talked to me like I was somebody that mattered.
When you talked to me at all.

Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.
Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.

It's taking time again.
This bitter pill slowly chokes me to death.
It's waking time again.
I sit beneath this stream of angry words flowing from my breath.
It's hanging time again.
This rope is too long for the task at hand, I wish I had a friend.
Someone who understands this state I'm in.

Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.
Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.

I can't just turn away from things I face each day.
The pain it drags me down. I try to smile, but I just frown.

Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.
Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.

I Just Noticed/Dream

Mon, 12 May 2008 02:06:38 GMT

I just noticed that my last 3 posts over the few months have started with "Well now".

Shows how much attention I have been payin. Duuhhh.

So how are things? I get the bug to write and by the time I get the time, I have forgotten what I wanted to write and so I don't.

Let me say this, depression sucks, I haven't felt like that since I was in highschool. Perhaps it's an early midlife crisis or something, I just could not deal with anything so I shut down and disengaged completely.

And there are things you know, things about God and His sovereignty, yet, the man buried in a landslide knows the sun is shining outside, but that still does not help him see, and that is exactly how I felt, buried in a landslide of doubt and despair and nothing seemed to help or so it seemed.

Yet, in all things, God has been and still is faithful to me and my family.

I still have some sin issues that I just can not seem to overcome and those still get me down.

John MacArthur back a couple of months ago was talking of satan and his main weapon against those of the faith, a double edged sword of doubt and despair and I seem prone to those attacks for whatever reasons. I hate it.

I often catch myself trying to "pull myself up by the bootstraps" and that don't work either.

So God makes me have to trust in Him for everything.

With that said, let me share a dream that I had back a couple of months ago that I believe had immediate implications as well as near future implications for me.

I had this dream that I was at my grandma's house and we (me and some others) were outside in the front of her house, she has a real large yard with few trees and the sky is very visible. The weather was clear and the sky was blue and out of nowhere this terrible storm blew in. There was lightening and heavy winds/rain and it was very severe weather and darn near as soon as it started it cleared out. Then the sky grew dark as if night was falling and you could see the stars in the sky and the stars started to streak across the sky as if the earth was spinning very fast and when this happened the stars started to "fall" from the sky directly onto me and I took off running towards the garage.
As I entered the garage the "stars" followed me in and I was engulfed in an explosion of swirling light and there was a terrible roaring noise that overwhelmed me and I was terrified. And all in a split second as the light was swirling and the noise was roaring, it all came rushing and compressing down into my hand, (my left one to be exact) and everything was quiet and it was now nighttime outside and I was alone in my grandma's garage and in my hand there was something. I opened my hand and there was a pair of those googley eyes, the ones that follow you everywhere you go and then I woke up, I believe I was crying.

I knew exactly and immediately what it meant. When the storms rage from out of nowhere and even if the sky and stars fall from the heavens (and I think that they may very soon) God is still watching over me. I need to take solace in that more now than ever, cause I think that hell is just about break loose here on earth (literally), I can feel it in my gut and it weighs heavy on my mind.

Curious to know your thoughts about all this.

Btw... the sounds on here were made by me. It's called Darkness (Vast Consuming). No one else has heard it before.

~ eric

It's Not That I Have A Headache...

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:47:21 GMT

Well now, it's been a while hasn't it?
I guess I don't write much at all anymore.
I ceased writing poetry along with my blog here.
And for the longest time, all I wanted to do was write, write and write.
So what to say? I've been under some deep depression since last december and it's really affected me to a great degree. I've been on the upswing a bit lately, but all it takes is some crummy weather and/or some sort of trial, great or small, that I don't seem to be able to deal with at all, and wham, I'm down.

On the spiritual side, I've described myself as the church of Ephesus... but I think there is more to it than that. I don't seem to be able to keep from my "pet" sins which just keep me in this constant state of down... spiritually that is.

Apathy seems to rule the day in my life and I seem to be in a constant state of defeat.
I know part of the problem, but it goes back to the apathy thing, being completely disengaged from everything going on around me. I know it's affecting my wife and kids and me and everything in and around me... and I'm overcome by it all, and the only way I deal with it is to disengage more.

It seems a vicious cycle that I can't get out of and I hate it all.

I would appreciate your prayers for my family, specifically my wife, for they are the ones that are suffering the most.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:46:06 GMT

Well now, unbeknownst to you all. I've been offline for a month and a half due to some technical difficulties.
Thanks for hanging around. I'll try and fill you all in on what has been going on.

~ eric

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:34:36 GMT

Well, now...

Happy New Year?!

(I wasn't done with the old one!)

Heh... actually, I'd like to go back several and get somethings straight from way back.

Alas, I can not and I must trust God in His sovereignty to make ALL things new.

Either way...

It always seems to be "all downhill from here".

~ eric

The Crux Of Christmas

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 04:52:50 GMT

The apostles were moved, not so much by an intellectual apprehension, as by a spiritual illumination. They met men, and the need of those men whom they met cried aloud to them. Their own desire for the revelation of the glory of Jesus in the salvation of men went out towards those whom they met, and was immediately answered by the recognition of the need of those whom they met for Jesus Christ. -- Roland Allen (1869-1947)

What men turn to is more important than what they turn from, even if that to which they turn is only a higher moral truth; but to turn to Christ is far more important than to turn to higher moral truth: it is to turn the face towards Him in whom is all moral truth; it is to turn to Him in whom is not only the virtue which corresponds to the known vice from which the penitent wishes to flee, but all virtue; it is to turn the face to all holiness, all purity, all grace. It was this repentance which the apostles preached after Pentecost. -- Roland Allen (1869-1947)

The Son of God did not come from above to add an external form of worship to the several ways of life that are in the world, and so to leave people to live as they did before, in such tempers and enjoyments as the fashion and the spirit of the world approve; but as He came down from Heaven altogether Divine and heavenly in His own nature, so it was to call mankind to a Divine and heavenly life; to the highest change of their own nature and temper; to be born again of the Holy Spirit; to walk in the wisdom and light and love of God, and to be like Him to the utmost of their power, to renounce all the most plausible ways of the world, whether of greatness, business, or pleasure; to a mortification of their most agreeable passions; and to live in such wisdom, purity, and holiness as might fit them to be glorious in the enjoyment of God to all eternity. Whatever, therefore, is foolish, ridiculous, vain, or earthly, or sensual, in the life of a Christian is something that ought not to be there; it is a spot and a defilement that must be washed away with tears of repentance. But if anything of this kind runs all through the course of our life, if we allow ourselves in things that are either vain, foolish, or sensual, we renounce our profession. For as sure as Jesus Christ was wisdom and holiness, as sure as He came to make us like Himself and to be baptized into His Spirit, so sure is it that none can be said to keep to their Christian profession but they who, to the utmost of their power, live a wise and holy and heavenly life. This, and this alone, is Christianity, a universal holiness in every part of life, a heavenly wisdom in all our actions, not conforming to the spirit and temper of the world but turning all worldly enjoyments into means of piety and devotion to God. -- William Law (1686-1761)

==================

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

John 1:1,14

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Luke 2:1-20

"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them."

God, who spoke everything into existence, comes into this world as a baby and lives out a perfect life of obedience to the Father and then pays the punishment for our sins on the cross and then is resurrected from death for our sake in the person of Jesus Christ.

The mere notion of this nearly confounds my thoughts almost every time I dwell upon it. I find it unfathomable that a holy and just God would stoop down to such depths and reach His hand out to me, to make a way to me for my reconciliation, justification, sanctification and future glorification... all because He showed me mercy and grace and it pleased Him to do so.

I sin. I fail. I compromise all that I know to be true. And yet, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that lay within (and outside) the boundaries of creation as we know it, gave His Son, The Son, to pay the ransom to Himself for my transgressions, my sin, my shame.

One of my favorite scriptures in all of scripture is this...

Romans 5:6-11

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation."

Christ died for the ungodly, His enemies. He paid the price for reconciliation while I was (and still am) a sinner of the gravest degree. I love the idea that I am continually being saved from my sins and His wrath. I need it desperately.

Salvation was given to me by the mercy and grace of God. I didn't earn it = (Self righteousness), I can't do anything to gain God's favor = (Salvation by works), I can't do more good to outweigh the bad = (Karma/salvation by works), and I don't get a second chance once this life is over = (Reincarnation)... and neither can you.

I have to completely rely on the saving grace and mercy of God... and so do you.

We all are dead in our trespasses and sins, and that deadness leads to hell eternal. Separated from God other than His wrath. Christ came to give us life and give it abundantly.

John 14:6

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.""

Jesus is the only way to the Father. And the Father has provided the Way to Himself through Jesus.

Won't you believe in Him? For today is the day of salvation.

Grace and peace to you.

~ eric

===================

Die Hard ~ The Crucified

Jim Bakker's your excuse
you won't believe
(he's sinned. like you)
too big-headed to admit you failed
it's easier to cop-out
easier to bail
easier to be a lazy slob
as you turn your head and sluff it off
you build a wall around yourself
and put reality on a shelf

diehard - the last to go down
diehard - you're gonna stick around
diehard - refuse to believe
diehard - that God could be

I'm not trying to condemn
your life is yours
for you to live
but the gentle approach you denied
as you chose to believe the lies
face the facts: you're not in control
satan cast and you swallowed whole
believe in God and think for yourself
or believe the lies and rot in hell

diehard - the last to go down
diehard - you're gonna stick around
diehard - refuse to believe
diehard - that God could be

so get down on your knees
then take his hand to get
on your feet
leave this life
don't shun the new
don't turn from what you know is true
cause it's the same old people
attitudes, and lives
you can choose to believe a lie
you can choose to live this life
or follow God and live a new life

A WHOLE BUNCH OF NOISE!

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:03:02 GMT

So... you probably didn't know this... but I create noise.
Noise for the sake of noise.
I call it "anti-trend deconstructionism". (Get out yer dictionary for that one kids.)
It can be harsh noise or ambient noise.
Either way, I created this noise and it's all free and available in the picture links below.
Check it!

Siltwater @ MySpace

Siltwater @ Pure Volume

~ eric

Hope?

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:53:34 GMT

As for what the Church thinks and says, what influence does that have on the handling of American politics, the conduct of American education, the regulation of marriage and divorce, on sex and drink, on how industrial disputes are settled, on how we carry on business? As a plain matter of fact, religion in this country is generally regarded as a tolerated pastime for such people as happen to like to indulge in occasional godly exercises--as a strictly private matter in an increasingly close-knit and socially acting society--in other words, as something that does not count. I should like to see the Church recognize that it has been pushed into the realm of the non-essentials, and to persuade it to fight like fury for the right and the duty to bring every act of America and Americans before the bar of God's judgment. [Christian leaders] are making valiant claim to such a right and duty; but the great mass of Church members are content to regard the Church as a conglomerate of private culture clubs, nice for christenings, weddings and funerals. Most Church members readily agree with the unchurched majority that it is not the proper business of the Church to criticize America or Americans. -- Bernard Iddings Bell (1886-1958)

===============

It's been a while. I apologize. I get all these ideas in the morning for something to write and then when the eve comes, I am either too tired or too distracted to really attain anything that resembles a steady thought. It's been one month since I last posted. How lame.

On a more primary note, I have a... shall we say a complaint of sorts? Well, perhaps more of a general note of the stupidity of my fellow man... all summed up in the expression of a bumper sticker.
Yep, I read 'em. I'll squint and nod and turn my head trying to read those stupid things whilst traveling down the highway at 75 mph.

One that sticks out in my mind (and perhaps is fodder for a future post) was one that proclaimed "Smile! Darwin loves you!". Now last time I checked, Darwin died in April of 1882! So, no dice there dummy, as I have said before... dead men don't!

But the one that got my goat (so to speak) the other day was on a car in my work parking lot. It said in real big letters (easy to read for us old folk), "Got Hope?" and I thought "Oh wow! It's something about offering hope!" and then when I pulled in next to the car, it said in small print under the big print, "Obama '08", and I started scratching my head and I asked myself "When did people start placing all this hope in some politician or the government for that matter? When has the government done much of anything in a rightly manner?"

Why do people hope? They hope cause they are in a trial of life, they seek some sort of justice or they just have needs that need to be met. They are dissatisfied with life or the quality of life that they have attained for themselves, etc.etc.etc. People are looking for hope, they hope for all sorts of things good and bad. Do you hope for? What does it mean to hope? Does it matter where you place your hope? Absolutely! The bible tells us to hope in the Lord, for He will be our means of hope and the object in which we need to place out hope in!

(I posted 3 versions for clarity's sake.)

Psalm 42:11 (NKJV)

"Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God."

(ESV)
"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God."

(NASB)
"Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God."

We as sons and daughters of the King of kings and Lord of lords have the greatest hope of all! One that is not placed in the temporary things of this life, it is above and outside of Hateworld's grasp! Through the thick and thin of life's trials and tribulations!

Romans 5:1-5

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Hope does not disappoint because we are loved with a love so far beyond our comprehension, it's unfathomable to our pathetic little brains! (Okay, I'm speaking for myself on that last one!)

So I ask you, what or who do you place your hope in?
Is it some political party or politician? Your bank account? Mastercard or Visa? The next drug or drink you can get? The next orgasm you can attain? Religion? Church? Work? The military? Your good character?

What is it? Come on now be honest!

I'll be the first to admit that I often catch myself placing my faith in my idols.
And at the top of that idol heap is me, myself and I.

If you are of the Body of Christ, you know what you need to be doing or repenting of, myself included.
If you are outside of Christ... there is room at the cross for you!

"The cross upon which Jesus died,
Is a shelter in which we can hide;
And its grace so free is sufficient for me,
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea."

"There's room at the cross for you,
There's room at the cross for you,
Tho millions have come, There's still room for one
Yes, there's room at the cross for you."

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

See, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. You (and me) we're born sinners, dead in our sins and trespasses. Jesus came and paid the price for sin. The only difference is I responded to the calling of salvation. I did nothing to earn it, I did nothing to attain it. I only accepted the gift of salvation offered to me by faith through the means of grace. Your sins can be paid for, but only if you take the gift of salvation by faith through grace. You can't earn it, you can't work your way to it, you can't... like I said earlier, dead men don't. They don't do anything but be dead. So I ask one last time... where is your hope placed?

Grace and peace to you Brothers and Sisters.

~ eric

===============

Strong Points, Weak Points

By Daniel Amos from the album "Fearful Symmetry"

You were always inclined to fall down on your knees
"Yes I am always praying through my vanities"
What was doubt in you has lost a Holy war
"What is faith in me has conquered all my world"

Chorus:
Good choice? Bad choice? Strong points? Weak points?
Strong heart? Weak will? Sound mind? Time will tell you.
Good choice? Bad choice? Strong points? Weak points?
Choices crowd your mind. Strong heart? Weak will?
And still time compels you, within these lines
to read the signs, you will find the truth

You were always talking 'bout some paradise

"Yes I am always thinking 'bout the afterlife"

What was hope in you is now your everything

"What was born in me is now a living thing"

(Chorus)

Good choice? Bad choice? Strong points? Weak points?
Strong heart? Weak will? Sound mind? Time will tell.

Strong heart? Weak will? Sound mind? Time will tell you.
Good choice? Bad choice? Strong points? Weak points?
Choices crowd your mind. Strong heart? Weak will?
And still time compels you within these lines
to read the signs, you will find the truth

You were always inclined to fall down on your knees

"Yes I am always praying through my vanities"

What was doubt in you has lost a Holy war

"What is faith in me has conquered all my world"

(Chorus)

A Sigh For You.

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:19:50 GMT

To the church:

Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts:
"Consider your ways!
"You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes."

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

About the world:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Reasons Why:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

As it is written:

"There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one."

Results And True Freedom:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.